Tuesday, 20 December 2016

The festive period can be one of the most joyous and wonderful times of the year but unfortunately it can also be one of the least healthy. We don't want to put a damper on any of the fun but we do want our Octagon friends to stay happy and healthy over Christmas and New Years and to start 2017 on a high so here's the Octagon Team's top seasonal tips!

“The
best way to keep healthy over the festive period is to make sure you are
getting your required amount of sleep. Personally I make an effort to do this
all year round but it can be especially important over the Christmas period
when the weather is cold and the parties are frequent!

Sleep
helps repair and rejuvenate your body and if you're burning the candle at both
ends for the month of December you don't want to find yourself run down and
getting ill over the holidays.

So
get those ZZZzzz's in your schedule and your body will be better equipped to
fight any viruses that come your way.”

From Massage Therapist Yoshiko:“Christmas can be a busy, stressful and emotional time, so here
are just three reasons to put sports massage on your present list!1. Relieves emotional tension 2. Removes toxins from your body3. Relieves pain and muscle tension”.

“If you’re going to be travelling long
distances be prepared beforehand rather than having to rely on service
stations, airports or train stations for your food.

Take a
homemade salad that contains some protein, a date ball for your pudding
and a smoothie to keep you feeling full and satisfied.

Snacks
such as plain nuts and seeds are a nutritious alternative to chocolate and
sweets. Make a little snack pot containing: pumpkin and sunflower
seeds, toasted coconut flakes, raw cacao nibs, flaked almonds and walnut
halves. Keeping this topped up also means that you have something to
nibble on when everyone else is passing around the chocs and you want to
keep to your healthy habits.”

Recent research suggests that we consume around 3,000 calories
in our Christmas dinner – more than the entire recommended daily intake for a
grown man!Instead of gorging yourself on Christmas dinner, eat a
normal-sized meal and then take a 20-minute break to see if you are still
hungry (it takes this long for the brain to register that the stomach is full). The chances are, you’ll realize you’ve had
enough.’

From
Front of Hous-er Ruth:

But if you do overdo it at the Christmas table...

“A
crisp wintery walk with the family (or alone!) is my suggestion. Enjoy the fresh air and a good dose of nature. You'll
avoid cabin fever. Plus it will aid digestion of those heavy Christmas-sized meals!’.